Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center will host annual March Madness for Reading
CHARLOTTE, NC, March 4, 2019 – Children in Mecklenburg and Union County’s book desert will receive the gift of more than 1600 books during Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center’s annual March Madness for Reading event, thanks to donations from Smart Start of Mecklenburg and Promising Pages, as well as the volunteer effort of the Junior League of Charlotte.
Each year, Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center hosts March Madness for Reading, an initiative to encourage reading and improve literacy for Mecklenburg and Union County kids through the gift of books, in-class guest readers, and reading celebrations.
“March Madness for Reading is a pivotal part of our initiative to improve student’s 3rd grade reading proficiency by boosting early literacy and language skills for young children in our community.” said Shannon Tucker, Executive Director of Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center. “These components play key roles in improving future economic mobility for the children we are serving.”
Smart Start of Mecklenburg and Promising Pages, who similarly work to improve literacy in local students, have generously donated the books for March Madness for Reading in 2019.Additionally, volunteers from the Junior League of Charlotte will be gift-wrapping these book donations, visiting classrooms, and serving as guest readers for the more than 300 children benefiting from March Madness for Reading this year.
Throughout the month of March, Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center’s Speech-Language Pathologists will visit Lakewood Preschool, Child time in Monroe, the Howard-Levine Child Development Center at Renaissance West, The Learning Collaborative, and Charlotte Bilingual Preschool to drop off book donations and read to the classrooms.
To stay up to date on March Madness for Reading 2019, follow Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and visit www.CharlotteSpeechHearing.com.
Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center is a nonprofit organization that has provided superior speech-language and hearing services to the Charlotte community since 1967. Our organization was the first community speech and hearing center in North Carolina. Today, we are the only free-standing, nonprofit speech and hearing center in the state. Our vision is that everyone in need, regardless of income or other barriers, has access to the speech-language and hearing services they need to build their own pathways to success and to obtain a meaningful and enriched life.
